​Is a killer still on the loose?The thirtieth gritty mystery in Quintin Jardine's bestselling Bob Skinner series, not to be missed by readers of Ian Rankin and Peter May.Praise for Jardine's gripping mysteries: 'Well constructed, fast-paced, Jardine's narrative has many an ingenious twist and turn' ObserverWhen a murder investigation that's been closed for thirty years is suddenly re-opened, former Chief Constable Bob Skinner is quickly drawn into the action.The story of the Body in the Quarry was well-known around Edinburgh all those years ago: a popular priest found dead in a frozen quarry; a suspect with a clear motive charged; a guilty verdict. But with a journalist uncovering new evidence, the cold case has come back to haunt Skinner's old mentor Jimmy Proud - and only one man can help him.Skinner is long out of the police force, but he can't say no. With the clock ticking, and his friend's reputation at stake, he must uncover the truth to find out if an innocent man was convicted for murder. And if a killer is still on the loose . . .

Wow... Book 30 in the Bob Skinner series. A series I have said many times before that I truly love reading. There have been a whole heap of colourful characters in this series, some amazing characters whose lives I have followed through the pages.
Bob Skinner no longer the Chief Constable of Edinburgh, now just plain old Bob, if there could ever be a plain old Bob Skinner that is.
​Bob has a way of attracting trouble, of getting involved in things to help out his friends. Bob is the go to guy when friends find they need help. Although he no longer works for the police, he does work on private commissions, he is also now carrying around as he puts it ' a piece of plastic that gives him Security Service credentials, he could be asked for help at any time.
This time around it's Sir Jimmy, or 'proud Jimmy. Bob's ex boss as it was. The ex Chief Constable, who is in need of Bob's services. Sir Jimmy wants closure on an old case and knows Bob is the man to help. I'm not going into to much regarding this story as it would inevitably give too much away.
There are a whole heap of the wonderful characters we have gotten to know through the previous 29 books, I can't believe this is book 30. It's one of my all time favorite series of books, I have no hesitation what so ever recommending these books. I will say though for the best of them, they need reading in order. I know at some point this is a series I will go back and re read.
​One thing I will say is, I wish I hadn't been in a public place when finishing this book. Tissues were needed for me.

When millionaire Leo Speight is found poisoned, Scotland's toughest cop is called in to solve the high-profile case...Skinner joins his old team in a complex murder investigation in the twenty-ninth gripping mystery in Quintin Jardine's bestselling crime series.Praise for Jardine's compelling novels: 'A masterclass in how murder-mysteries ought to be written' Scots Magazine
When millionaire Leo Speight is found poisoned at his Ayrshire mansion, Police Scotland has a tough case on its hands. Speight was a champion boxer with national hero status, and a long list of lovers and friends stand to benefit from his estate. Did one of them decide to speed things up? Or was jealousy or rivalry the motive?
The Security Service wants to stay close to the investigation and they have just the man to send in: ex-Chief Constable Bob Skinner. Skinner might have retired from the police, but solving crimes is in his blood. Combining forces with DI Lottie Mann and DS Dan Provan of Serious Crimes, he's determined to see Speight's murderer put away for a long time. But there's a twist even Bob Skinner couldn't see coming...

Available in audiobook

Before I start I will say this is one of my all time favourite crime series. I have read every single Bob Skinner book in order. This however is the first time I decided to get the book on both Kindle and Audio. It was great being able to flick from one to the other. I sat reading and when I had to get up to do things, I just turned it over to audio.
The narration of the book was done magnificently. The different characters and their accents were brilliant.
I will also add that for the best experience, read this series in order. It's so much better having a back story to the many many characters there are.

So book 29, wowzerzzz… I loved this book just as much as I have all the others, I love the character of Bob Skinner, for me he's the Scottish Alex Cross. He's a first class Character with lots of baggage. He's the sort of man you want on your side and not against you.
I'm loving how now in later books, the other characters are playing bigger parts in the story, although Bob Skinner is still around as he is now working for the Security Service.
Millionaire Leo Speight is found poisoned Lottie Mann and Dan Proven are to head the team into finding his killer.
Lottie is struggling with personal issues and despite this she still manages to be a great detective. She has her long time partner Dan watching her back at all times, in work and out. When you also have Big Bob on your side, any little problems can soon be ironed out.
I'm loving how in these books the centre stage is not all for Bob Skinner, in his last book the character focus was all around Commander Neil McIlhenney and in book 27 the focus was around Bob's eldest daughter Alexis Skinner, this time around the character focus is more around Lottie Mann and Dan Proven. It's great being back with characters that feel like old friends.
I did say in my review for book 27 that a spin off series featuring Alex Skinner would be awesome. I still think that.

I am lucky enough to have just received an ARC of book 30, so I can't wait to dive into that one now I have finished this one.
An OUTSTANDING series, where the quality of writing and storytelling has just gotten better. Sometimes with long running series you can start getting a bit bogged down with them, they start to fade off the more books are written. Well that's certainly not the case with this series.

A shocking murder at the Palace of Westminster draws Edinburgh's toughest cop into a complex new case...

Skinner is plunged into a web of politics and enemies in STATE SECRETS, the twenty-eighth mystery in Quintin Jardine's bestselling crime series. Not to be missed by readers of Ian Rankin and Peter May. Praise for Quintin Jardine's gritty novels: 'Well constructed, fast-paced...many an ingenious twist and turn' ObserverFormer Chief Constable Bob Skinner is long out of the police force but trouble has a habit of following him around. So it is that he finds himself in the Palace of Westminster as a shocking act befalls the nation.Hours before the Prime Minister is due to make a controversial statement, she is discovered in her office with a letter opener driven through her skull.Is the act political? Personal? Or even one of terror?Skinner is swiftly enlisted by the Security Service to lead the investigation. Reunited with Met Police Commander Neil McIlhenney, he has forty-eight hours to crack the case - before the press unleash their wrath.There are many in the tangled web of government with cause to act. But the outcome will be one that not even Skinner himself could predict...

5* Read

Back with good old Bob.

OHHH I do love a Bob Skinner book. Here we are at book 28 and I’m by no means sick of this series, if anything with each and every book I left wanting another one, then another one. I was late to the Skinner party so was very fortunate to read the first few back to back, I wish I could just be starting over with them all again now.

I love how each book especially now we are so far into a series seems to bring back in a character that maybe you haven’t heard to much from in previous books. This time it’s the lovely gentle giant of Neil McIlhenney. Neil is now a Met Police Commander, It’s a good while since he and Bob have worked side by side.
Its great how it just doesn’t seem to matter that Bob Skinner is no longer in the police force, the former Chief Constable still seems to be the go to guy when a big job needs big responsibilities. And this is certainly a big job, a top secret job that only someone with Bob’s experience could handle.
​
A shocking murder at the Palace of Westminster has Bob and Neil working to a very tight time frame to try and figure out who could possible want to kill the Prime Minister just hours before she was to make a controversial statement.
Was this act meant to silence the PM for good, or was it personal.
Bob and Neil have this huge case on their hands yet as things need to be kept top secret they are working with limited means. And with only 48 hours of media blackout, can they get anywhere near uncovering the truths before the media find out just what exactly has happened.

OH my Lord! What a read and a half that was. I loved every bit of this book. I was seriously engrossed from the very beginning and did not want to stop reading until I was at the end. Unfortunately real life gets in the way and occasionally I actually had to put the book down and do real life, stuff.

I think any Bob Skinner fan will seriously enjoy this book, but any fans of crime fiction need to read this series. I also think it would be better reading in order, I think with a series this good that has gone on for 28 books then you owe it to yourself to know the back history of some of the characters.

Bob Skinner Book 27

When supermodel Annette Bordeaux is found battered and strangled in her Edinburgh flat, former Chief Constable Bob Skinner's old team instantly have a global case on their hands.
The victim's husband, world-renowned footballer and recent Merrytown FC signing, is quickly discounted as a suspect. But there are others in the club with less watertight alibis...
Two years out of the game, Skinner can't help getting his hands dirty. And as his old team work to convict the prime suspect, his own daughter, Alex, is the lawyer tasked with leading the defence.
The opposing sides must work to find the culprit while the press watch on. But in this game, no one can be trusted, and there are murkier deeds still to uncover before the final whistle blows...

I can't believe this is book 27. Its been great following Bob Skinner for all these years, and I'm still enjoying the books now.
​I was thrilled when this come through my letterbox, thrilled to receive a review copy.
​Bob Skinner has always made me think of A Scottish Alex Cross only better. He's one hell of a character and it's been an amazing journey so far with him through 27 books, I'm certainly hoping this series continues for a long time to come.
​This book features more of Bob's eldest Daughter Alexis Skinner. And it's brilliant to see her coming into her own now. I could almost see a spin off series featuring Alex. Now that would be awesome.
​Bob is now officially retired from the police force. But that certainly doesn't stop him from being a formidable character and still getting involved in cases.
​And this is certainly a difficult case, we are not looking for a killer, in this book. The police think they all ready know who it is. This is more a case of trying to prove why the accused didn't do it. In doing that Bob and Alexis are trying to figure out who really did. I have to admit I had no idea all the way through. Brilliantly written to leave you guessing right up to the end.
​It's great also to see all the familiar characters from previous books, and all the mini Bob Skinner clones coming into their own.
​This is a first class series of books and I have no problems recommending them to any crime fiction fan.
I do believe this book could be read as a stand alone, but for me it's always better to read a series in order.
​Quintin Jardine certainly knows how to tell a story.
​

Book 28 is available to pre-order now.

Have you read any of the Bob Skinner Books?
What do you think of them?
​Share your views in the comments below.

Quintin Jardine's twenty-sixth Bob Skinner mystery sees the Edinburgh sleuth plunged into a gruelling new case in which no score will go unsettled.

Former Chief Constable Bob Skinner has uncovered his fair share of crime scenes over his thirty-year career. But few have affected him quite as much as the horrifying sight he finds stowed in the back of a stolen car that collides with his on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
As his former colleagues investigate, Skinner takes on an unusual commission of his own.
The body count rises, motives appear, the hunt goes global, and potential conflicts surface. In his new guise, is Skinner is on the side of the angels...or working against them?

Wow, It still amazes me how far this series has come. I have been reading this series now over many years, and I never tire of it. I would love to see Bob Skinner as a detective series on TV.
​I have to say though with this book, it was like having a reunion with old friends. There are an awful lot of characters that have been in these books over the years, and this book seems to give you a reminder or a history lesson of some of the more memorable characters, it also helps refresh your mind as you do forget certain people as the books progress. But it was just wonderful to be back with old friends. I have loved and enjoyed each and everyone of these books, and this one is certainly no exception.
​I would say if you have not read any of the Bob Skinner series then it really is worth doing so in order. It really would add to the enjoyment of the reading, and following Bob through his personal life as well as his police Career.

​In this instalment, Bob is now a Private Investigator, no longer a police office. But come on this is Bab Skinner. You think not being a copper is going to hinder him in any way at all. After all he has a whole heap of friends on the police force, Doesn't he?
​His first PI case is to help an old acquaintance whose Luxury Boat has gone missing. I don't mean a little pedal boat, its a 5million pound Yacht.
​How the hell can one of those go missing, well that's up to Bob to figure out, and it soon becomes apparent that his colleagues on the police force have not really done a thorough job of looking for it.
​And yes in true Bob style he is caught up in a police investigation after he has a bump in his car and the driver of the other car does a runner, It was only a little bump so what the hell made the other driver run for it, like his life depended on it.

​I can't be giving to much away so I'm not going to say any more, but if like me you do enjoy a QJ book, then this one is certainly well worth reading.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline for an advance copy of Private Investigations. A book like all the others I really did enjoy.
​

After thirty years of service, former Chief Constable Bob Skinner faces the possible end of his police career, at its pinnacle.
A quiet trip to Catalunya to contemplate his future soon takes on a different flavour when Skinner is approached by an old friend, media owner Xavier Aislado, with an unusual request. One of his business's brightest talents, Hector Sureda Roca, has vanished without a trace. Now it's up to Skinner to track him down.
But as he conducts his search it soon becomes clear that another manhunt is also in progress, and that he himself is the target.
While his daughter Alex fights that battle on the home front, his search for Sureda takes one sinister turn after another, until he is faced with the toughest question of all. Is natural justice sometimes the only answer?

My thoughts

5/5

Well here we are at book 25. I can’t believe how many books are in this series. A series I stumbled on by accident. I bought book 3 in a charity shop, then when I got home discovered it was part of a series, and ended up buying books 1 and 2, so I could read them in order. I loved the books, and every other one that has followed since. Some more than others.With this one, I don’t believe it would matter if you had not read any of the previous books, as there is enough background information available throughout the story.But if you are anything like me, you would want to read them from the beginning to have a better understanding of everything that goes on.This is one of those series having read it over many years, that one day I would love to get the whole collection again, and start reading them again.Bob Skinner, I just love Big Bob and everything about him. He’s a difficult character at times. There are many sides to Bob, but the wrong side is not where you want to be.I love how we are still following a lot of the same character from older books, and seeing how they have got on in life. Its a bit like a reunion when you haven’t read one his books for a while and then come back to them, you slowly start to remember who was who, and what they did, with whom and when.I liked how this story also focused on Bob’s Eldest daughter Alexis. And think it could be that maybe future books will feature her more than her father.Which ever way Quintin goes with his writing, Bob, Alexis.. I will certainly be reading it.I’m not going to go on about the story, I think the synopsis gives more than enough of what is going on. And I really don’t want to spoil a brilliant read for anyone.Cant wait for the next one.I received a review copy of this book for an honest opinion

The body of a murdered woman is found washed up on Cramond Island near the mouth of the River Forth. Days later detectives are called to a flat in Edinburgh; the kitchen is covered in blood, and the occupier is missing.

When the name of the woman from Cramond Island is revealed, it stirs unwelcome memories for those who knew her, Chief Constable Bob Skinner most of all. Now based in Glasgow, he has no reason to become involved in the case. Yet he does, unwittingly setting in motion a course that leads him to the toughest choice of his life, putting him in the midst of a personal nightmare, both life-threatening and career changing.

4/5

Hour Of Darkness (Bob Skinner Mysteries Book 24)

I can't believe I waited so long to read this book, Its been on my to read list for ages.
However when I started reading it, it was like re visiting old friends. As each of the characters were mentioned everything started to come back from the 23 books I had previously read.
I have had a fictional crush on Bob Skinner for some time... lol.. I just think he's amazing. lol. Kind of like the Scottish Alex Cross.
As usual, this is a bloody good story, and the book flows along nicely. Leaving you wanting to read it at every opportunity.
I have enjoyed over the years the life of Bob Skinner, family, Friends, work colleagues and relationships, are as much part of the stories as the crimes themselves.
There are quite a number of characters in this book, I really feel having read all the previous books helped with this, so If you are going to read them, I would advise you do so from the very beginning
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